# Oddly enough, I have a LEGAL question about the RealDoll sex doll. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009 "2004-08-22T20:53:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/21 "2004-08-23T19:23:25Z")
> [@Chastain86](#): > > the Real Doll is a super-realistic sex doll I’ve seen several of these on display at “Erotica LA” the annual porn industry exhibit in Los Angeles. They’re only “super realistic” if you’re a necrophiliac. They look like corpses. (And on that note, there’s an old Salon article written by a freelancer who got a tour of the RealDoll factory… he describes a disturbing visit to a back room where hundreds of naked headless doll bodies hang from hooks in the ceiling.) And as for the Real Doll Rental Agency idea, I hope you have an [appropriate](http://www.atl.ualberta.ca/virtualLab//images/kitchen_images/008_big.jpg) [cleaning](http://www.drainvacne.com/accesswet-kit.gif) [kit](http://www.farmstoreonline.co.uk/media/clothing132910.gif)… ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/22 "2004-08-23T19:34:38Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > I wonder what the legal implications would be if they built one of those in a children’s size, to appeal to the pedophile market. Well, I believe the courts have ruled that even fictional depictions of minors in a sexual context are subject to prosecution. Which is why my [1999 Alt.Tasteless Awards-winning article](http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&safe=off&frame=right&th=213b3d4481339134&seekm=19991110160934.74500.qmail%40hotmail.com#link1) had to carry a disclaimer at the end. [NSFW! (Even Googling for the article was risky!)] ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/23 "2004-08-23T19:59:47Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > (This site is just too creepy for words. I am hoping it is all some sort of joke.) Nope. They really do produce these things. Further, independant people have bought them and use them to make [RealDoll pornography](http://.realdollporn.com/freeintro.html) (NSFW, in case you couldn’t guess). ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/24 "2004-08-23T20:09:24Z")
I seem to vaguely recall reading an article from some young male journalist where he offered to ‘test drive’ a RealDoll and the firm let him. Am I hallucinating? But if I’m remembering that correctly then it looks like they can be loaned out for demos and it’s not a long jump from that to rentals…floor models…post-market mods… The mind boggles. ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/25 "2004-08-23T20:10:30Z")
What about dolls of other species? Sometimes the niche market yields great profit. ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/26 "2004-08-23T20:19:23Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > I seem to vaguely recall reading an article from some young male journalist where he offered to ‘test drive’ a RealDoll and the firm let him. Am I hallucinating? No, that was an issue of Nerve’s “I Did it for Science”. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/27 "2004-08-23T20:59:41Z")
> [@Pablito](#): > > What about dolls of other species? Sometimes the niche market yields great profit. See post #20 ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/28 "2004-08-23T23:05:54Z")
> [@Pablito](#): > > What about dolls of other species? Sometimes the niche market yields great profit. I remembered seeing something not too long ago about them coming out with an “Anime” RealDoll. Complete with the unnaturally large eyes and technicolor hair. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/29 "2004-08-24T02:17:25Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Don’t know about that, but I read an article about the Real Dolls where the creator said he was once offered over 10,000 or so to create a realistic German Shepherd. In the end, he said he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He couldn’t bring himself to do it in the end? 😃 _OK, Rin-Tin-Tin, I want you to…_ :eek: Bow-WOW! Seriously, the only places where I could see this being illegal are those where non-human sexual gratification is an offense-I’m thinking of the lady in Texas who had dildo parties and was prosecuted. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/30 "2004-08-24T02:30:33Z")
Boy. The threads one posts into. I Google’d it and have seen a photo of it. I can walk into a sporting goods store these days and find cammo clothing that is in fact photographic representations of foliage and whatnot. If that’s possible, then that thing doesn’t have to look like a corpse. For another grand or two, it’s very very feasable to synthesize a latex face. Harder than the edible ink printing they do on birthday cakes, but not outside of the realm of possibility. Plunging decolletage. Vapid features. Perfect nails. Flaxen hair. Goodness me, Vannah White has branched out !!! 😃 I have to admit, it’s highly creepy looking. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/31 "2004-08-24T02:48:24Z")
It strikes me that, legal issues aside, one problem with this scheme is logistical. From the Real Doll FAQ: > [@](#): > > REALDOLLs are shipped by standard freight in a plain and secure shipping crate which doubles as a storage locker. The crate is approximately 5’x2’x2’ and weighs about **150 lbs** when loaded. Inside the padded crate, the doll is safely strapped into a padded seat. (Emphasis mine.) Any ideas how you’re going to get the doll to and from your clients’ homes discreetly? A couple of strong men in plain brown wrappers? It would obviously be much simpler to get customers to come (heh) to you, but that might be more likely to provoke someone into making a charge of prostitution. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/32 "2004-08-24T03:47:10Z")
> [@bughunter](#): > > Well, I believe the courts have ruled that even fictional depictions of minors in a sexual context are subject to prosecution. Actually, I believe they’ve [ruled the opposite](http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/04/16/scotus.virtual.child.porn/): > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON (CNN) – The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday [mid-April 2002] struck down a 6-year-old law that prohibits the distribution and possession of virtual child pornography that appears to – but does not – depict real children. > > The law had banned a range of techniques – including computer-generated images and the use of youthful-looking adults – which were designed to convey the impression of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/33 "2004-08-24T17:19:07Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Any ideas how you’re going to get the doll to and from your clients’ homes discreetly? Obviously, you use a RealDolly. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/34 "2004-08-24T18:16:21Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > [piggyback] > I wonder what the legal implications would be if they built one of those in a children’s size, to appeal to the pedophile market. > > :eek: > > [/piggyback] IIRC, someone posted a link here several months ago to a Japanese website that sold exactly that. Not RealDolls[sup]TM[/sup] specifically, but a Japanese version of same. Don’t know if it would be legal here, but they’d be something to consider for space and portability reasons. “Small apartment? No problem!” You don’t really want a link, now do you? ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/35 "2004-08-24T22:31:15Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Obviously, you use a RealDolly. Best. Reply. EVAR. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/36 "2004-08-24T22:35:09Z")
Yeah, that was pretty damn funny, **Cervaise**. ---
**Author:** ![adirondack\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@adirondack\_mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adirondack_mike)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/37 "2004-08-24T23:34:31Z")
I want one of [these.](http://.crumbproducts.com/photos/photopages/photos25.html) and maybe they can make one of [these](http://.crumbproducts.com/photos/photopages/photos25.html) lifesize. OK I am going to hell. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/38 "2004-08-25T00:05:54Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > I seem to vaguely recall reading an article from some young male journalist where he offered to ‘test drive’ a RealDoll and the firm let him. Am I hallucinating? > > But if I’m remembering that correctly then it looks like they can be loaned out for demos and it’s not a long jump from that to rentals…floor models…post-market mods… > > The mind boggles. Yep, that’s the one I was talking about-he visited the HQ, and got to try out one of them. He said it was a pretty creepy experience. Some of the orders included a complete replica of some guy’s mother, some anime and alien looking dolls, and one covered in Wookiee-like body hair. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/39 "2004-08-25T13:16:25Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Don’t know about that, but I read an article about the Real Dolls where the creator said he was once offered over 10,000 or so to create a realistic German Shepherd. In the end, he said he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Am I the only one who is of the opinion that RealDoll should _reconsider_ this decision? [CHORUS: “Yes…yes, you are!”] But think about it a bit: the guy’s got a yen (for better or worse) for doggie style, (“Old School!”). If the RealDoll folks won’t make him a toy one, he’s just that much more likely to go find a _real_ German Shepherd to nail. After all, it’s the only choice he’s got left. Is THAT what we want him doing? I certainly don’t understand people who want to pork their pets, and I CAN understand reasons for frowning on it (to _some_ extent, at least). Why not give him an adequate alternative that doesn’t involve harming any actual doggies? Wouldn’t that be better than having him cruising the local animal shelter for “friends”? Well, wouldn’t it? I say give him a FauxFido. Let him stay home and have his fun and leave the other canines to the other canines. For me, that would be a superior moral choice. ARF! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddly-enough-i-have-a-legal-question-about-the-realdoll-sex-doll/261009/40 "2004-08-25T13:48:58Z")
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